The Senate's pre-9/11 mindset

The Washington Times ^ | 12/17/2005 | ?

[KCRW]

"God forbid that there be a terrorist attack that could have been prevented by the Patriot Act after it has expired," Sen. Jon Kyl said yesterday after the Senate failed to overcome a filibuster of legislation that would have reauthorized the Patriot Act. "If that happens, those who have supported the filibuster will have to answer for it, and the American people will have a very hard time understanding what their objections were." Got that, Sens. Larry Craig, Chuck Hagel, Lisa Murkowski and John Sununu? As the four Republicans who voted to continue the filibuster, they now bear the unenviable task of defending their vote. Conveniently, none of them is up for re-election in 2006. Democrats predictably voted en masse in favor of the filibuster, with the exception of Sens. Tim Johnson and Ben Nelson, who we applaud for bucking their party's unfounded Patriot Act paranoia. So, unless Majority Leader Bill Frist -- who had to vote for the filibuster as a matter of Senate procedure -- can pull a Christmas miracle, valuable provisions in the Patriot Act will expire Dec. 31. Along with the Feckless Four, we also have to throw in the New York Times, which ran a front-page article yesterday -- conveniently in time for the filibuster vote -- blaring the headline, "Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Court Orders." Sen. Charles Schumer explained that the article "greatly" influenced his vote in favor of the filibuster. "[T]oday's revelation that the government listened in on thousands of phone conversations without getting a warrant is shocking," he said. What that headline doesn't say -- and what Mr. Schumer obviously didn't read or care to mention -- is that the National Security Agency's program, started after September 11, monitors international communications only. And why?

[KCRW]

Here we go again- falling right back into the failed mindset that allowed the 9/11 terrorists to move forward.

[Wristpin]

Can Bush call an emergency session of the Senate over the holidays to get rid of the legislative backlog? Since we are at war it would be prudent. The military will be working 24/7 over the holidays.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Anyone have a link to the voting on this measure? FReepers might be interested in their Senator's record...

[TNCMAXQ]

The next time there is an attack in the US of course all the blame will be on Bush though.

[MizSterious]

I really didn't want the "permanent" part going into that bill--an extension up until the time President Bush leaves office would have been fine. Perhaps more disturbing are the CIA leaks and McCain's anti-torture nonsense. When the President signed onto that, I lost hope that anyone in government is serious about fighting terror.

*No, I'm not bashing the President, but this incident was very disappointing.

[PlanoMike]

To have a mindset implies one must first have a mind, something lacking in the Senate.

[c-b 1]

I am bashing the President. Until he does something to close the open back door, I am looking through, I will consider this war on terror phony as a three dollar bill.

[zip]

Perhaps more disturbing are the CIA leaks and McCain's anti-torture nonsense

I am a very conservative person (slightly to the right of John Wayne and Ronald Reagan) but President Bush's refusal to clean out the leftists from CIA, DOJ, State Dept etc along with his signing CFR, refusal to halt illegal immigration, kissing ted the swimmers behind on Education, and on and on, has me preparing myself to hold my nose and voting for GOP candidates (actually voting against the anti American, anti MIlitary dims).

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The GOP has no leadership, no discipline, thus no backbone. I predict it'll be 20 years before we have a majority like this to squander.

[yoe]

TO ALL

Senator Larry Craig
Washington DC TEL: 202/224-2752 - FAX: 202/228-1067

DC Address: The Honorable Chuck Hagel
DC Phone: 202-224-4224 - DC Fax: 202-224-5213
Email Address: http://hagel.senate.gov/index.cfm?
WWW Homepage: http://hagel.senate.gov/

DC Address: The Honorable Lisa Murkowski
DC Phone: 202-224-6665 - DC Fax: 202-224-5301
Email Address: http://murkowski.senate.gov/contact.cfm
WWW Homepage: http://murkowski.senate.gov/

Senator John E. Sununu
mailbox@sununu.senate.gov
WASHINGTON, DC
111 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-2841
FAX (202) 228-4131

If the Patriot Act is allowed to slip into the Jamie Gorelick Wall of no aggression towards aggression from our enemies, the aforementioned will have to answer to America for their failure to defend the citizens of this country. Call, email or fax them and remind them it is their duty to defend and protect the Constitution and the People of this nation – NOT TO defend our enemies. Remind them that the lack of terrorism in this country AND others is because the Gorelick wall was torn down AND they must not put it back up!

[penowa]

The next time there is an attack in the US of course all the blame will be on Bush though.

That is exactly what the Democrats are hoping for so they can point the finger at Bush. The Republicans who voted against cloture with the Democrats will do the same thing if it happens and no doubt Specter and McCain will get on board when the time is right (probably others as well.)

[penowa]

I predict it'll be 20 years before we have a majority like this to squander.

I think you are an optimist!

[MNJohnnie]

Can Bush call an emergency session of the Senate

I don't know that Bush can call Congress into session but I bet the Congressional Leadership could force them into a seesion. Congress is different then a State Legislature which your average Governor can call into session. They are a lot more arrogant about their "Co-equal" power status with the President.

[MNJohnnie]

When the President signed onto that, I lost hope that anyone in government is serious about fighting terror.

Yet AGAIN. The final vote on the Defense Appropriation passed with greater then 2/3rds majority in both Houses. It was veto proof. I do NOT know why there is such this desperate need to demand Budh ride it down in flames. How about holding CONGRESS accountable for passing the bleedin' thing?

[MNJohnnie]

predict it'll be 20 years before we have a majority like this to squander. I think you are an optimist!

Amazing. Democrats filibuster and the usual suspects launch into the usual whining about the REPUBLICANS!!!! I suspect it will be at least 20 years before some Freepers learn how the bleedin' US Government works!

But that right. Just launch into the same old whines posted 1,000 times a day here for the last 5 years. Don't bother to actually assign blame WHERE it belongs. God forbid certain "conservatives" ever got off their butts and DID something instead of doing nothing but helping spew the the Democrats PR lines. If the Republican lose their majority it will be because "Conservative" were too stupid to wake up to the fact that shooting 100% at their OWN side is THE SAME THING as being on the Traitor's side.

[MNJohnnie]

The Honorable Chuck Hagel

Correction. There is ABSOLUTELY nothing honorable about Hagel.

[MNJohnnie]

Until he does something to close the open back door, I

I know this is going to come as a huge shock to the Afraid of their Own Shadow Caucus but NOT every issue on Free Republic needs to be hijacked into a discussion of their paranoia about Hispanics. There are more then enough immigration threads for that.

[thoughtomator]

We still have Norm Minetta leading the Dept. of Transportation... what do you expect? Even the President's camp doesn't seem to fully understand the seriousness of the situation.

[penowa]

In the event that you are unaware, Democrats are the ENEMY. Some Republicans that constantly block efforts, throw monkey wrenches into the works, and side with the ENEMY are the ENEMY of conservatives also. They may suit Republicans just fine, but they are found seriously wanting by conservatives because most of us are simply not interested in chairmanships or who gets the best perks.